Senate leaders spar over special election

Thursday

Top Illinois Senate leaders are at odds over how quickly lawmakers should move ahead with creating a special election to fill U.S. Senate seat vacancies.

Top Illinois Senate leaders are at odds over how quickly lawmakers should move ahead with creating a special election to fill U.S. Senate seat vacancies.

Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Thursday that his legal staff is reviewing an opinion issued Wednesday night by Attorney General Lisa Madigan that says it's constitutional for lawmakers to approve a special election.

Cullerton said the Senate will not act on special election legislation until that review is done and senators see what proposal is approved by the House. Last week, Gov. Pat Quinn said he supported a House measure calling for a special election.

"We're cooperating this year between the House and the Senate. So in this case, we wait and see what the House comes up with," Cullerton told reporters on the Senate floor.

Cullerton doesn't think passing a version would force embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to reconsider resigning and says the state Senate will need to review anything the House approves.

He's also concerned about a potential $50 million pricetag for a special election.

"I know the price of democracy is paying for elections, but I think it's a factor," Cullerton said.

House and Senate Republicans have put a hard press on Democrats to advance a special election measure, saying Lisa Madigan's opinion erases any constitutional question about the idea.